{
  "abstract": "Purpose This presentation recounts the journey of establishing Athens Eye Bank, the first eye bank in Greece, created with the generous support of the European Eye Bank Association (EEBA), Eye Bank Prague, and Moria Surgical. We will address the needs of the Greek healthcare system for corneal transplantations and highlight the vital role eye banks play in meeting these demands. We also aim to encourage further collaboration among EEBA members by sharing the lessons learned through this endeavor.Methods With no prior experience in eye banking, our team was driven by the goal of improving patient care and enhancing transplant practices in Greece. Through collaborative efforts, we overcame significant challenges, including regulatory and logistical hurdles. Visits to Eye Bank Prague and hands-on training with Moria Surgical were crucial in gaining the necessary skills. With EEBA’s guidance and support, we successfully adopted international best practices and established a fully functional eye bank from the ground up.Results Despite starting with no experience in eye banking, Athens Eye Bank is now operational, providing much-needed corneal tissue for transplantations in Greece. Through dedication and the invaluable support from EEBA and its network, we created a sustainable eye bank that meets international standards. Our work has already started addressing the pressing need for corneal transplants in the country, setting a foundation for future growth.Conclusions The success of Athens Eye Bank highlights the importance of determination, learning, and international cooperation. This project illustrates how collaboration within the EEBA network can help overcome obstacles and build vital healthcare infrastructure, even in the face of inexperience. We hope to inspire other eye banks and promote further partnerships within the EEBA community.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece",
        "Athens Eye Bank, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Marina S Chatzea"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Konstantina A Togka"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Dionysios G Vakalopoulos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Vasileios A Tsagkogiannis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Marios P Katsimpras"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Lida Lalou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Oční tkáňová banka Praha Vinohrady, Eye Bank Prague, Prague, Czech Republic"
      ],
      "name": "Yveta Urbanova"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Moria Surgical, Massy, France"
      ],
      "name": "Ludovic Desneux"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Ophtalmology, ‘G. Gennimatas’ Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece",
        "Moria Surgical, Massy, France"
      ],
      "name": "George D Kymionis"
    }
  ],
  "title": "1.4. Starting from scratch in the journey to Athens eye bank",
  "uid": "08045d9a-9532-563b-9a32-cc778a493edb"
}